Shape changing, metabolite consuming peptide nanostructures
Abstract
Living systems use completely different operating principles compared to synthetic matter. In particular, living systems derive their functions from the dynamic interactions of multiple components and they rely on the continuous consumption of high energy metabolites, such as ATP, to sustain their existence out of equilibrium. In this project, PI proposes to blur the lines between living and non living matter by producing synthetic shape changing, metabolite consuming matter. The uses of modular peptide sequences as components, is biomimetic in concept, but deliberately uses much simpler design strategies compared to those found in living systems. The project has three main aims that build on our previous AFoSR funded work. First, PI will use our recently developed dynamic peptide libraries to search the sequence space for metabolite binding peptides. These metabolites will be a variety of phosphate esters, including ATP. Binding sequences will be resynthesized and characterized. These sequences will subsequently be modified and optimized to equip them with cooperative assembly capability, in order to form specific nanoscale structures upon metabolite binding. Furthermore, PI will introduce assembly induced catalytic activity to enable hydrolysis of metabolites. Finally, these aspects will be integrated to produce metabolite consuming, shape changing, peptide based materials, which will be characterized using a variety of spectroscopy and microscopy techniques.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910111
Entities
People
- Rein V Ulijn
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Research Foundation of The City University of New York
- United States Air Force